Route guide · KY → TX
Shipping a car from Kentucky to Texas
Shipping a running sedan from Louisville/Jefferson County metro government to Dallas costs about $800–$1,200 on an open carrier and $1,200–$1,800 in an enclosed trailer, with 2–4 days in transit. It ranks #218 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,000
- Road miles
- 860
- Days in transit
- 2–4
- People moving a year
- 4.7K
- Companies at both ends
- 152
City to city
What it costs between Kentucky and Texas cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, Lexington-Fayette, Bowling Green and Owensboro and Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin — 760 to 1,180 road miles apart.
| From | Dallas | Houston | San Antonio | Austin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County metro government | $800–$1,200860 mi · 2–4 days | $825–$1,225950 mi · 2–4 days | $900–$1,3001,120 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,040 mi · 3–5 days |
| Lexington-Fayette | $825–$1,225920 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,2501,000 mi · 2–5 days | $925–$1,3251,180 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,090 mi · 3–5 days |
| Bowling Green | $750–$1,150770 mi · 2–4 days | $800–$1,200850 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,2501,030 mi · 3–5 days | $825–$1,225940 mi · 2–4 days |
| Owensboro | $750–$1,150760 mi · 2–4 days | $800–$1,200860 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,2501,030 mi · 3–5 days | $825–$1,225940 mi · 2–4 days |
A pickup or delivery far from these metros usually adds $75–$150. Quotes move with fuel prices and truck space, so treat these as a yardstick. Price your own addresses →
By vehicle
Price by vehicle type
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government to Dallas, 860 miles. Bigger and heavier vehicles take more room and weight on the trailer, so they cost more.
| Vehicle | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan or small car | $800–$1,200 | $1,200–$1,800 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $900–$1,325 | $1,325–$2,000 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,000–$1,500 | $1,500–$2,250 |
| Pickup truck | $1,025–$1,550 | $1,550–$2,325 |
| Motorcycle | $475–$725 | $725–$1,075 |
By month
Best time to ship
Prices on this lane peak in December (snowbird season, when retirees ship cars south for the winter and the holidays), running about 20% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from Kentucky to Texas is February–May and September.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,000 Peak: about $1,200
About this route
Why so many cars go from Kentucky to Texas
About 4,661 people moved from Kentucky to Texas in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5,410 in 2023, 3,912 in 2024). That is 5.3% of everyone who left Kentucky for another state, making Texas its #5 destination.
Traffic runs both ways — about 4,139 people a year move from Texas back to Kentucky — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,000, shipping from Kentucky to Texas is one of the cheaper long moves out of Kentucky — Florida ($1,075) cost more. That works out to about $1.16 a mile.
Distance and transit time
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government to Dallas is about 860 road miles — 2–4 days on the truck. On a run this short, many people weigh shipping against driving it themselves. The car heads west-southwest and crosses one time zone — from Eastern to Central time — so confirm whether the delivery window you are given is in local time.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in Kentucky and Texas, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Kentucky
7 companies based in Kentucky: 7 carriers, 0 brokers, 26 trucks in total, 11 years in business on average.
- D F Trucking Inc Somerset · 7 trucks · since 2013 · USDOT 2376020
- LJS Transport LLC Mayfield · 6 trucks · since 2018 · USDOT 3209842
- Bonsai Auto Transport LLC Lexington · 4 trucks · since 2010 · USDOT 2106813
- S & A Transportation LLC Louisville · 3 trucks · since 2020 · USDOT 3484376
- Accelerated Transport LLC Richmond · 2 trucks · since 2012 · USDOT 2336415
Delivery end Texas
145 companies based in Texas: 102 carriers, 24 brokers, 1,183 trucks in total, 9 years in business on average.
- Usal Houston · 382 trucks · since 1989 · USDOT 357779
- Car Transport Inc Burleson · 309 trucks · since 1984 · USDOT 248283
- Transcar Express LLC Brownsville · 89 trucks · since 2010 · USDOT 2066413
- Texas Auto Carriers San Antonio · 31 trucks · since 1984 · USDOT 521201
- Transporting Cars Champion Inc Arlington · 26 trucks · since 2012 · USDOT 2287307
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Texas but not into it — or coming from somewhere near Kentucky? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
FAQ
Kentucky to Texas car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Texas's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Kentucky to Texas?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $800–$1,200 from Louisville/Jefferson County metro government to Dallas (860 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $750–$1,325. An SUV costs about $900–$1,325, a pickup $1,025–$1,550, and an enclosed trailer $1,200–$1,800 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Kentucky to Texas?
Transit is usually 2–4 days after pickup for the 860-mile trip from Louisville/Jefferson County metro government to Dallas. Getting the car picked up takes another 1–5 days on a standard booking; expedited pickup within 1–2 days costs about 30% more.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from Kentucky to Texas?
February–May and September is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 20% more. Whatever the month, a flexible pickup date booked 2–3 weeks out gets the best price.
How soon do I have to register my car in Texas after moving?
Texas requires new residents to register within 30 days of becoming a resident. Get Texas insurance first. Cars in 17 emissions counties — including Harris (Houston), Dallas, Tarrant (Fort Worth) and Travis (Austin) — need an emissions test; then register at the county tax assessor-collector.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from Kentucky to Texas?
Driving 860 miles takes about 2 days: roughly $110 in gas and 1 night of hotels and meals (about $140). Shipping a sedan costs about $800–$1,200. Over this distance driving usually costs less, if you can spare the day.
Which car shipping companies go from Kentucky to Texas?
Our directory lists 7 companies based in Kentucky and 145 based in Texas, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.